Flexible chain.



I. SCHADE.

FLEXIBLE CHAIN.

APPLICATION FILED .IULY I7, |917,

1,266,996. Patented May 21,1918.

@nvm/14201 nrrn srarns raf/rarita ernten.

JOHN SCHADE, 0F EQIYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO NATIGNAL BLANK 1300KCOMPANY, OF HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS, A VOLUNTARY TEU-ST ASSOCIATION OFCOPARTNERSI-IIP HAVING AS TRUSTEES J. W. TOVNE, F. B. TOWNE, E. S.TO/VNE,

J'. lVI. TOWNE, AND F. W. WILSON.

FLEXIBLE CHAIN.

Application lcd July 17, 1917.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it knoWn that l, JOHN SCHADE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Holyoke, Hampden county, State of Massachusetts, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Flexible Chains; and Ido declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as Will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

rl`his invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in afiexible chain, its main object being to provide a chain having ahousing Which may flex with the chain and still maintain tight jointsthroughout during such flexure.

The invention consists broadly in housing or inclosing the pivotallyconnected eyes of a cable chain With spherical balls or shells andencircling the bar part of each link with a tubular sleeve Whichembraces portions of adjacent ball members and constitutes socketstherefor.

rlhe invention further resides in the specific features of constructionand arangements of parts described in detail in the followingspecification and briefly set forth in the appended claims, referencebeing had to the accompanying drau'in g wherein,

Figure 1 is an elevation of a chain constructed in accordance With thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof on line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar view taken at right angles to Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line t-- of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional vieW of a slightly modified form of the invention.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates theterminal eyes of a link in a chain of the cable type, and 2 theconnecting link bar, said links having their eyes pivotally connected toeach other by rivets 3 for flexing in an obvious manner.

The pivotal joints of the cable link are housed by an inclosing shell orball 4 which is preferably composed of a pair of hemispherical parts,the eyes 1 being concentrically arranged Within the shell, as depictedin Fig. 3. The opposing or abutting edges 5 are cut out to form slots 6on opposite Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 21, 1918.

Serial No. 181,062.

sides of the sphere for receiving the link bars 2, the degree of lexureof the chain being defined by the end Walls 7 of the slots 6. rhe linkbars 2 are housed or inclosed by tubular sleeves 8 Which are preferablyconstructed by rolling a strip of material into circular form With theedges 9 left unsecured orfree. rlhe opposite ends of the sleeves orsocket members are formed with conical seats 10 for receiving theadjacent ball members to hold their component parts together.Consequently, a ball and socket joint is provided for a flexible chainhousing which may flex to any predetermined degree Without t-hcpresentation of any open joints.

The degree of fiexure permitted the chain, as before stated, is limitedor defined by the end Walls 7. In certain instances, it is desirable tohave the chain links flex in one direction only, and to this end one endWall of cach slot 6, Which must be on the same side of the longitudinalaxis of the chain, is cxtended parallel with and located nearer thenormal longitudinal axis of said inner chain, as depicted in Fig. 3, toengage the respec" tive link bars when the chain is normallyv straight.Consequently, tl e flexible housing for the chain limits the tlexurethereof in one direction only, the chain being retained in a straight orbar-like form when swung in the opposite direction.

To afford lexure of the chain in either direction, the end Walls of theslot 6 are disposed equi-distant from the longitudinal axis of the chainas illustrated in Fig. 5.

In the preferred construction the tubular socket members embrace thespherical shells under a resilient tension so that should the innerchain stretch, said tubular parts Will still preserve a resilient graspupon the hem ispherical parts so that there Will be a good tight jointall the time. This affords a dirttight joint and housing for the innerchain Without detracting from the flexibility thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A chain comprising a plurality of flat links pivotally connected andeach link comrisinvu a central bar art and terminal e es P e P 1lcomplemental hemi-spherical shells inclosing the pivotally connectedeyes of adjacent links and cut-away at their meeting edges to form slotsfor receiving and permitting limited movement of the link bars, and atubular socket member surrounding the bar part of each link andreceiving and engaging the adjacent shells in its opposite ends.

2. A chain comprising a plurality of flat links pivotally connected andeach link comprising a central bar part and terminal eyes, complementalhemi-spherical shells inclosing the pivotally connected eyes of adjacentlinks and cut-away at their meeting edges to form slots for receivingand permitting limited movement of the link bars, and a socket memberinclosing each link bar and comprising a strip of resilient metal rolledinto tubular form with its edges free to eX- pand and contract, saidsocket' members receiving a complete shell in each end and engaging thesame under tension.

3. A chain comprising a plurality of pivotally connected links, a ballhousing for each pivotal joint, rand a sleeve interposed betweenadjacent ball housings for inclosing` the bar part of the link.

4. A chain comprising a plurality of piv otally connected links, a ballhousing for in its edge to provide with the cut-outs in the companionpart spaced slots for receiving the bar parts of the links, and housingsfor the bar parts interposed between adjacent ball housings.

6. In a chain, a plurality of flexibly connected links, independentmeans surrounding each joint for defining the degree of ieXure, and asustaining spacer between each means.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

JOHN SCHADE.

Witnesses:'

I. M. Towns, F. W. Wnissnon.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

